Disassembly questions M1 Garand

[BoySetsTheFire]

I am dissassembling my newly purchased M1 Garand. I have two questions.

1. I wanted to take the bolt apart to get all the cosmoline out. The instructions say to pry up the extractor and the spring-loaded ejector will pop out. However, the ejector does not pop out. Should I be concerned? Am I doing someting wrong? I'm using a screwdriver and rotating it so that the extractor opens as much as seems possible.

2. Someone here posted that the rear handguard, closest to the trigger, can be easily removed by rocking and sliding. I have not been able to remove it. I understood that it is difficult to do and usually left on. I thought you need to remove the lower band and pin, as well as the rear band.

Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Okay, I got the bolt apart. Now it's just the rear handguard. I assume I just have to drive the lower band pin. Right?

 

[Gator]

Yes, take the pin out.

Great instructions here: http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/detailstrip.html

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Hmmm ... seems the CMP instructions say to remove the band, and they state it is difficult and not recommended. www.surplusrifle (tremendous site) says to remove the pin. I'm thinking the pin is the way to go, but would like to hear from those who have done both. Thanks.

 

[ocabj]

It's easy. Just tap the pin out with a punch.

As far as removal of the top/rear handguard. It's also easy. Just pull forward and twist off.

You can detail strip a Garand in less than 3 minutes.

The only thing you need to be concerned about with the rear handguard is removing the metal tap off the wood. Don't do it unless you have to and only if you have the tool. Even with the tool, there's a chance you can crack the wood.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Well, always a problem. I have an H&R Garand, likely from the Korean era. I went to remove the handguard pin - and it wasn't there! The hole was filled with cosmoline. The diameter of the pin hole is much smaller than the diameter of the pin shown removed at www.surplusrifle.

I suspect this vintage does not get a pin. At any rate, the lower band appears to be press fit onto the barrel and will not budge.

Once again, any help would be appreciated.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Getting the pin back in is the problem. Make sure you have an anvil or other support under the pin hole when replacing it and tap gently to prevent the lower band swinging around the barrel and obstructing the movement of the oprod.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Guy, there is no pin. See my more recent post.

 

[hps1]

Suspect your rifle has a roll pin (formed by rolling a piece of flat spring steel to form a pin). Roll pins are hollow in the middle and would give the appearance of no pin at all, especially if there were cosmoline in the hole.

The original pins (IIRC) were solid pins, but either ordnance or CMP have been replacing with roll pins.

Regards,
hps

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Yup, it's a roll pin. I couldn't see it at first because of all the cosmoline. Any suggestions on where to find an exact punch to remove this pin with?

 

[hps1]

Doesn't have to fit perfectly, just big enough not to be driven into the hole thru the roll pin and not too large to get stuck in the hole for the pin. I have ground nails down to fit but if you use a nail, don't make the small diameter too long or it will bend. If too tight for a nail to move the pin, you may have to grind down a regular punch if correct size pin punch not available.

Regards,
hps

 

[Swampy]

Yup, it's a roll pin. I couldn't see it at first because of all the cosmoline. Any suggestions on where to find an exact punch to remove this pin with?

For years I've used nothing more than a wooden mallet and a 4" pc. of 1/8" brass rod, kept in my tool kit.

Brass rod is available at any hobby shop or welding shop.

Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Cueball]

I've been doing enough cleaning of cosmo covered milsurps that I bought a set of roll pin punches at a local tool and die shop. That's another option if you want to spend the money to do it.

 

[30Cal]

Clean the area well. One side of the hole for that pin is probably staked (so the pin will only go in/out from one direction).

One of the M1's I got recently was very difficult. The pin had rusted in place and I had to use Kroil plus a steel punch to get it out initially. Once you get the band off (you may need to use penetrating oil and a punch once again to tap the band off), then you will be able to pull the handguard towards the muzzle and off the barrel.